Alex Salmond's final Commons speech slams both sides of the House

Published on Tuesday 30 March 2010 23:09

SCOTLAND's First Minister Alex Salmond bowed out of Westminster politics last night telling MPs he had never been more convinced of the need for independence.

The SNP leader attacked both the Tories and Labour for promising deep cuts in public spending during his valedictory speech in the Commons chamber.

Mr Salmond, who is standing down as MP for Banff and Buchan at the general election, said the need for Scotland to run its own affairs had "never been more urgent".

He told MPs he had enjoyed his 23 years debating in the Commons which was "second only to the Scottish parliamentary chamber".

During a debate on last week's Budget he said: "The last 23 years has absolutely strengthened my absolute conviction that the case for having determination over Scotland's finances and resources has never been more urgent and never required to be better made than it is now."

Mr Salmond criticised Chancellor Alistair Darling for saying public spending cuts would be "deeper and tougher" than those under Margaret Thatcher.

"The best way forward, I believe is to grow the economy out of recession, growth in the economy is the single biggest determinant of closing a Budget deficit just as a reduction, a loss of capacity like the 6 per cent we've lost over the last two years, is the dominating, overwhelming reason for the 167 billion public-sector deficit.

"So the public-sector stimulus is not the cause of the borrowing."

It was "puzzling" that the Red Book containing details of the Budget did not contain a further stimulus this year.

Mr Salmond said: "You can't cut your way out of a recession but you could cut your way into a double-dip recession and yet in terms of the Red Book that is precisely, in terms of no fiscal stimulus, what is proposed by the Treasury bench."

The SNP leader did suggest cuts that could be made, reiterating his call for the Trident replacement to be scrapped because it was "not just unjustifiable and immoral it's totally unaffordable".

There was laughter from MPs as he said 10 million could be saved by abolishing the Scotland Office.

"I'm sure the Conservative Party, who, when they look into their innermost souls, have always wanted to abolish an entire government department, can see the sense and logic in getting rid of the Scotland Office," he said.

The Commons was a "fantastic Chamber", Mr Salmond said but added: "The rest of the Palace of Westminster I can take or leave."

Meanwhile, Mr Salmond has confirmed he will accept a resettlement grant when he leaves Westminster this summer. However, he plans to give a ''substantial amount'' of the cash to a charitable trust.